On Senate Floor, Warner, Kaine Honor Late Rep. Gerry Connolly by Passing His Final Legislative Effort

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), secured unanimous congressional passage of late U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly's final legislative effort, the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act. Rep. Connolly introduced the bill two days before he died of esophageal cancer, and the bill has since been renamed to the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act. The bill passed unanimously in the House of Representatives in June 2025, and passed the Senate today by unanimous consent. It now heads to the president's desk for signature.

In remarks today on the Senate floor, Warner honored his friend of over 30 years, saying, "He was a fighter. He was kind and funny, but, boy, you did not want to get on the wrong side of Gerry Connolly because sometimes that fighting spirit would show itself in his relentless - in other words, getting into an argument with Gerry was not something anybody looked forward to."

"And in his final days, Gerry continued to center federal employees in his work. Two days before he died, he introduced H.R. 3490, which will direct the Government Accountability Office to report on esophageal cancer in federal employees," continued Warner.

Warner explained that this bill directs GAO to help understand the landscape of esophageal cancer care among federal employees and retirees, and particularly access to early screening and early treatment. This bill would ask GAO to study if federal employees who are high risk are being screened as early as possible, to help them get the care they need as early as possible.

"[Connolly] was a tireless advocate for so many. The point Mark made about esophageal cancer and its growing effect on this country is important to underline. This was the condition that claimed Gerry's life, but how powerful that even two days before he died, he was trying to advance our understanding of this. Esophageal cancer is the fastest-growing cancer among men in the United States. We're not exactly sure why. We can get more data and do more analysis of this and then provide options for care should this resolution pass." said Kaine on the Senate floor.

Video of Warner and Kaine speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate is available here.

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